Montana District Office Newsletter

Brought to you by the U.S. Small Business Administration

Wayne Gardella to Lead Montana District Office as District Director

Stan Nakano, Region VIII Acting Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced the selection of Wayne Gardella as the new district director for the Montana SBA office.He officially started his duties at the district office January 21 after executive training in D.C.

SBA Launches Affordable Care Act Web Page and Blog

Montana Small Businesses Encouraged to Learn How to Take Advantage of New Health Care Provisions

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a new web page and blog dedicated to educating small business owners about the Affordable Care Act. The new tools will serve as a gateway for small business owners connecting them with information provided by SBA’s federal partners responsible for implementing the law, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SBA Montana District Office Recruiting for Small Businesses that Want to Excel

Is your business stuck in neutral? SBA Hosting e200 Program in 2013 to Mentor and Train Montana Small Businesses

TheSmall Business Administration is bringing the Emerging Leaders 200 Initiative (e200) and its MBA-style program to Montana small businesses for the third year.

The free seven-month course begins in April in Helena. It includes approximately 40 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small business owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders and financial communities.Participants in the program will graduate with a clear three-year strategic plan for long term growth and strategies to achieve size and scale.

Just like a class you'd attend in person, courses are taught by a live instructor on a scheduled day and time. The web-enabled instructor-led training experience has much in common with the classroom equivalent. Students:

Receive course materials in advance

Participate in real time using a broadband connection

Interact directly with the instructor and their peers

From your computer, you'll link to an instructor in a live, real-time, interactive learning experience. You'll become part of a virtual classroom where you can ask questions, seek guidance and participate in class discussions and small group exercises.

There is no cost for 7(j) eligible businesses. Contact Phyllis Embree or Chris Strudthoff, sbaworkshops@stoverteam.com or 770.423.9888, to see if your business is 7(j) eligible. This activity is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) contract number D12PC00504.

HUBZONE Eligibility Assistance

The HUBZone office offers eligibility assistance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m. (EST). Please call 1-888-858-2144 access code 3061773# to this interactive helpline forum where HUBZone staff will present a specific eligibility topic followed by a general question and answer session. For firms seeking application status or answers about supporting documentation, please email the SBA HUBZone Business Opportunity Specialist who you worked with.